how do i turn off the start menu search

[Guest]

I've gone into the Properties and disabled the search options, but the search
box still shows up. I used to love clicking the Start button and then a
letter to jump to a menu item. There's got to be a way to make Search stop
showing up. And if not, is there a way to go with the Classic menu, but the
Windows XP 2 column option?

 

[Guest]

use u classic start menu

 

[Guest]

Thanks, but that's not really much help . . . . Still looking for a thorouh
answer to my issue.

 

[Richard Urban]

Seeing as how Microsoft has gotten very big on search, and as how it is very
actively marketed as being so good in Vista - I doubt that they intend for
anyone to disable/remove the function.

If you find a way let us all know. I am sure there are others who would like
to do as you do.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User

 

[S Wayne]

Seeing as how Microsoft has gotten very big on search, and as how it is
very actively marketed as being so good in Vista - I doubt that they
intend for anyone to disable/remove the function.

If you find a way let us all know. I am sure there are others who would
like to do as you do.

Agreed, I can't figure out who at Microsoft thought we'd want to go back
to the old Win95 Classic menu, but not the WinXP Menu structure. There
are several things about the Search system that I find annoying, and
not being able to return to the XP style is very frustrating, but typical
Microsoft.

 

[Guest]

So, 2 1/2 months later, and not a hint of a comment from Microsoft. Come on
guys and gals - I know you monitor these groups. Throw us a bone. I'm
obviously not the only one frustrated by this new "functionality." I do tech
support for a living and am always defending MS to my clients. I'd love it
if you would keep me from being a liar when I talk about how user-friendly
Windows is!

 

[Jon]

So, 2 1/2 months later, and not a hint of a comment from Microsoft. Come
on
guys and gals - I know you monitor these groups. Throw us a bone. I'm
obviously not the only one frustrated by this new "functionality." I do
tech
support for a living and am always defending MS to my clients. I'd love
it
if you would keep me from being a liar when I talk about how user-friendly
Windows is!

Disabling Search is pretty simple. It certainly shouldn't have taken you 2
1/2 months to work it out. More like 5 minutes. You simply disable the
Windows Search service.

Why you would want to do so is another matter. It's one of the best features
in Vista.

 

[Guest]

Jon, you're welcome to your opinion about search, but I know where my files
are and don't want the Search box showing up when I click on the Start
button. I'm sure other users who have echoed my concern would thank you to
keep the editorial comments and the implied insults to a minimum.

As for your suggestion, disabling the Windows Search service does not remove
the Search box from the Start menu. Many of us grew used to hitting the
Start button and then the first letter of the menu item we wished to jump to
while using XP for the last 4+ years. To force users to add an additional
keystroke (Windows + Up Arrow + first letter of desired item) to get where
there going is inconsiderate. The easy solution is for MS to release a fix
that lets users choose the Search functionality that works best for us -
where it will look for stuff, visible as a button like in XP, or removed
completely. A mandatory Search box that captures all keystrokes after
depressing the Windows key on the keyboard amounts to hijacking my intended
destination.

 

[Rock]

So, 2 1/2 months later, and not a hint of a comment from Microsoft. Come
on
guys and gals - I know you monitor these groups. Throw us a bone. I'm
obviously not the only one frustrated by this new "functionality." I do
tech
support for a living and am always defending MS to my clients. I'd love
it
if you would keep me from being a liar when I talk about how user-friendly
Windows is!

You shouldn't be surprised. This is not official MS support. What is
surprising, actually, is how often one sees an MS employee posting (on their
own time) in these groups. It's much more common here than in the XP
newsgroups, but it seems to be a specific bunch each posting to specific
questions in their area of interest (like Jill on Backup and System
Restore). In any event contact MS tech support through official channels if
you want a response from MS.

 

[Guest]

I'm very interested in getting rid of the search box from the start menu as
well. It's driving me nuts.

It appears that Microsoft has provided no option for removing it.

I even tried Group Policy, and in the description for "Remove Search link
from Start Menu" (under User Configuration->Administrative Templates->Start
Menu and Taskbar) there is a reference to "Remove search box from Start
Menu". But the "Remove search box from Start Menu" setting DOESN'T EXIST!

It seems like it was in previous Vista builds and was then removed for some
reason.

I really hope that Microsoft provides an option for removing this soon.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

The description actually states "Removes the Search link from the Start
menu, and disables some Windows Explorer search elements. *Note that this
does not remove the search box from the new style Start menu."

This policy only removes the search link that appears on the right side of
the start menu.
You cannot remove the search box that appears directly above the start
button.

 

[Guest]

I am quite aware of what that particular setting does, but if you read
towards the bottom of the description you find this:

Also, see the "Remove search box from Start Menu" and "Remove Search button
from Windows Explorer" settings.

It references another setting called "Remove search box from Start Menu".
When you try to find this setting you find that it does not exist.

Here is the whole description:

Removes the Search link from the Start menu, and disables some Windows
Explorer search elements. Note that this does not remove the search box from
the new style Start menu.

This setting removes the Search item from the Start menu and from the
context menu that appears when you right-click the Start menu. Also, the
system does not respond when users press the Application key (the key with
the Windows logo)+ F.

In Windows Explorer, the Search item still appears on the Standard buttons
toolbar, but the system does not respond when the user presses Ctrl+F. Also,
Search does not appear in the context menu when you right-click an icon
representing a drive or a folder.

This setting affects the specified user interface elements only. It does not
affect Internet Explorer and does not prevent the user from using other
methods to search.

Also, see the "Remove search box from Start Menu" and "Remove Search button
from Windows Explorer" settings.

Note:

This setting also prevents the user from using the F3 key.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Your correct, I just didn't take the time to scroll far enough.

I searched the new Group Policy Editor reference and could not find this
setting? I have seen this happen before when a GP option was removed and it
took awhile to get the descriptions updated. But, for now it doesn't seem
possible to remove that search box.

 

[DP]

Note that this does not remove the search box from
the new style Start menu.

Any idea what that language is supposed to mean? I wonder if you can only
remove it from the classic start menu and not the "new style" one.